Blog

Blog

Do You Need a Time Management Paradigm Shift

Larry Gard - Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Is time management one of your daily challenges? If so, then how do you define time management?

For many of us, this definition begins by focusing on time and how to get more time out of 24 hours. By using this paradigm, most people have already set themselves up to fail because no one can manage a constant; Time! Managing is about juggling a lot of different things at once, because there is not a constant. Something always comes up to throw your schedule or time off.

So to improve time management begins by accepting that you must shift your paradigm and focus on the real issue or challenge – YOU; and how you manage yourself. Possibly now you are thinking, OKAY it’s me, but the issue of getting things done is still a problem and not always under my control. You are absolutely correct. However by shifting your perspective or paradigm, you can now put into action specific steps to correct those issues that you feel you have no control over. Planning and creating a regular routine will allow you to bring some order to the usual daily chaos we all seem to feel from time to time.

From my perspective and what I share with my clients is that time management is really the apex of goal setting. For without goals, why would we care if we are late for a meeting or sending out that proposal or taking that phone call? What I have also discovered is that the majority of people and I mean probably over 90% that I have encountered do not have a proven goal setting process in place. So time management is a symptom of poor goal setting behaviors. How about that? I’ll bet you didn’t see that one coming.

Time management is really about goals and values. By not having goals and not having values or a commitment to achieving those goals, individuals are faced with not having enough time to do what they say they are going to do. Time management is about identifying the must dos from the should dos. Must dos are those items that you have given your word on or that someone may suffer something terrible if you do not take action. Everything else is an activity you should do. You then prioritize the should dos based upon your goals (there is that word again) Goals. These skills are really self-leadership skills and to be truly successful, these are skills that need to be mastered.

When you shift your paradigm regarding time management, the things within your focus will look differently. So, if you accept that time management is about you, your goals and your self-leadership skills, you will then have the opportunity to make the most out of every single day.

For more information on what types of services are available for your company at Gard Business Coaching, LLC, email Larry at larry.gard@gardbusinesscoaching.com or call Larry at 314-378-6644. The Interview meeting is no cost.

"High achievement always takes place in the framework of high expectation."